BOSTON – A helpline has been launched in K-12 schools in Massachusetts to provide pro-bono legal assistance to parents whose children are experiencing antisemitism. The helpline was created by the Anti-Defamation League along with Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and StandWithUs.
Peggy Shukur is Vice President of ADL East Division. She says since October 7, when Hamas militants attacked Israel , there’s been a dramatic uptick in antisemitic incidents in K-12 schools. “So, we realized that we needed to do more to really provide better assistance for families that were really suffering from really pernicious antisemitism in schools that was not being addressed,” Shukur said.
Parents and administrators can now use the “K-12 Antisemitism Legal Line” to report incidents of antisemitic discrimination, intimidation or violence that may call for legal action.
Incident at Marblehead High School
David Magen is a sophomore at Marblehead High School. He says he faced antisemitic schoolwork material in one of his classes last year. “Several homework assignments that denied the existence of Israel. And having the land Israel Judea being referred to as Palestine was an instant red flag to me, because I knew the history and I knew the dates and I knew that something was not right,” Magen said.